Newark police have identified the Canadian man who drowned in the Erie Canal in Wayne County over the weekend.
Man who drowned identified
John Fiander, 65, of Ontario, Canada, was pronounced dead Saturday, July 11, after his body was recovered from the Erie Canal in Newark, according to Newark Police Chief Agustin Gonzalez.
Man fell into Erie Canal
Fiander was part of a group of four people from Canada who were sightseeing by boat on the Erie Canal when he fell into the water near Van Buren Street around 6:10 p.m. Saturday, according to the Newark Police Department.
When emergency responders arrived, they found a woman from the same boat in the canal searching for Fiander, her significant other, who had fallen into the water, Gonzalez said. Responders were able to safely remove the woman from the canal.
Investigators said Fiander appeared to have slipped and fallen into the water between the boat and the canal wall.
‘Tragic accident’
Gonzalez described the incident as a tragic accident and said there was no indication of foul play.
Newark firefighters launched a boat to search for Fiander, and his body was later recovered from the canal.
Wayne County sheriff’s deputies, New York State Police, Newark-Arcadia Ambulance and Fairville firefighters assisted at the scene.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Man who drowned in Erie Canal identified
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
